Tank

ABSTRACT

An air drying-moisture discharge tank system wherein the valve discharge means is integrally constructed with the tank. The valve means comprises a pair of valves for collecting the moisture separated from the pressurized fluid stream applied to the tank and automatically and periodically discharging the moisture and all other contaminants separated by the tank during the passage of the pressurized fluid stream thru the tank.

United States Patent Cole et al. Dec. 17, 1974 TANK [75] Inventors: Robert R. Cole, Yorba Linda; Exammer charles Sukalo Raymond S. Bullard, La Palma,

Appl. No.: 365,554

Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Christie. Parker & Hale [57] ABSTRACT An air drying-moisture discharge tank system wherein the valve discharge means is integrally constructed with the tank. The valve means comprises a pair of valves for collecting the moisture separated from the [52] US. Cl 165/71, 165/111, 137/590 pre rize flui stream applied to the tank and auto- [51] Int. Cl F16f l/34 matically and periodically discharging the moisture [58] Field of Search 55/169; 165/47, 1 10, 71, and all other contaminants separated by the tank dur- 165/1 1 1; 137/590 ing the passage of the pressurized fluid stream thru the tank. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2.857.055 /1958 Glasgow 55/169 MATT Z0950! v ieaw 4/? i V COMPPl-TRUP r Awe/e 24 205 74 235 A a 22 PA /MARY g3; V4414? 2/D $UA//.D-/6 M H7 ;';;W r a, g 23 .3 v

1 2 551/5/A/G Sawfly/F27 g 5, 65) 1 v s sn /v/ FA 5W5 30 29 KOOTE/QAA/E 5/64444 -23 MAM/RAM 11/0 may CA/ECK 1444 Vi -2/s 4444/1/44 0 e550/e V/W0/? 9 44 /QL45E(PU5H 6 MP 4/Z4/VUALL y OPE/V rm; paw/42v Zp TANK REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed in the copending patent application bearing Ser. No. 188,291 filed on Oct. 12, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,774,679, entitled TANK and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

PRIOR ART AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fluid tank adapted to separate any contaminants including moisture from the pressurized fluid stream conveyed through the tank and means for automatically discharging the collected contaminants from the tank.

The aforementioned copending patent application bearing Ser. No. 188,291 discloses an improved tank for cooling a pressurized air stream and separating out any moisture from the air stream. In this type of tank, as well as in the prior art types of tanks, a valve is employed external to the' tank proper for draining any collected moisture from the tank. These prior art types of valves have been found lacking in that they do not have sufficient capacity to fully drain the tank or the valve, in time, is rendered inoperative as a result of contaminants, such as oil, received from the tank. The oil that is in the fluid stream along with the moisture is separated from the stream and is discharged by such a purge valve. The lack of proper drainage for such cooling tanks or the improper operation of the discharge valve detracts from the efficiency or usefulness of such cooling or separating systems. Stated differently, in the attempt to separate out the moisture from the fluid stream the process must not only be efficient but once the moisture is separated proper, efficient and reliable means must be employed for discharging the collected moisture. It has also been found that when such moisture operating tanks are employed in climates where temperatures may reach freezing, an electrical heater is generally employed to prevent the discharge valves from freezing and thereby being rendered inoperative. These air tank valve systems are generally employed on trucks and as a result of the discharge valves being externally mounted from the tank proper, they are subject to being broken off by rocks and the like striking them or by the vibration of the motor vehicle during operation thereof.

The present invention provides an improved and more efficient and more reliable tank capable of accepting a hot, moisture laden fluid stream and cooling it while separating out the moisture and contaminates contained in the fluid stream and automatically and periodically discharging the collected moisture from the fluid stream. The tank includes an improved valve constructed integrally with the tank shell or housing for the tank for collecting and discharging the moisture separated from the air stream by the tank. The integral construction of the valve with the tank is advantageously arranged to allow a heat exchanging operation to take place between the tank and the valve structure to heat the valve to render it inoperative over a wider range of temperatures without resorting to heating means than heretofor possible. For example, this will allow the tank-valve system of the present invention to be operative even in freezing temperatures that are not extreme freezing temperatures. The integral valve structure is also more reliable due to the reduction in the amount of plumbing required since fewer ports and joints means fewer leaks. In addition, the integral construction of the tank-valve system reduces the space envelope required on the motor vehicle. The valve is also adapted to be automatically operated from two air sources. As applied to a truck having pneumatically operated brakes, for example, pressurized air that is employed for the brakes may function as one of the sources of the air for the automatic operation of the valve system so that pressurized air is applied to the valve for operating the valve with each operation of the air-operated service brakes by the truck operator. The second source for such automatic operation of the valve to discharge the collected moisture and contaminants from the tank is the coupling of the valve to the governor/compressor system for the air brake system so as to render the valve automatically operable in response to the automatic cycling of the governor/compression system. With this two-way operation of the valve, the tank is continuously and automatically discharged of its moisture thereby rendering the entire system more efficient, useful and practical. The valve per se is a diaphragm operated valve which has proven to be more reliable than an O-ring sealed piston element for responding to the air pressure applied thereto. The diaphragm allows looser tolerance parts than the piston type construction thereby being less susceptible to binding and less susceptible to malfunction due to freezing small amounts of residual water.

From a structural standpoint, the present invention comprehends a storage and collection tank for a pressurized fluid such as pressurized air and the like wherein the tank comprises an enclosed shell having an internal fluid passageway defined within the shell for conveying the fluid therethrough and constructed and defined to cause the heat of the fluid conveyed therethrough to be transferred to the shell and separating out any contaminates including any moisture in the fluid stream applied to the shell. The tank includes means for conveying the pressurized fluid stream into the shell for conveyance to the internal fluid passageway and for conveying the pressurized fluid stream out of the shell. The contaminants including any moisture are separated from the fluid stream and are discharged to the bottom of the tank. The tank includes means for collecting and discharging the separated contaminants from the tank arranged adjacent the fluid entry means or the hot side of the tank constructed and defined to be integral therewith. The valve means employed for such a storage and collecting tank may comprise valve means mounted in a cavity at one end of the tank and having a movable plunger operated between an open position communicating with the interior of the tank and a closed position for sealing off the interior of the tank. Conduit means are provided for communication between the bottom of the tank and the valve for conveying the collected moisture into the valve when the valve plunger has been moved into the open position so as to be discharged out of the tank when the valve is moved to a closed position. The valve includes means for automatically operating the valve means between the open and closed positions periodically as a result of the vehicle operation and more particularly the pressurized air system for the vehicle.

These and other features of the present invention may be more fully appreciated when considered in the light of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FlG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the tank-valve system for removing contaminants and moisture and the like from a fluidized stream and discharging same and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the fluid entry end of the air tank illustrating the internal construction of the tanks valve system as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

The present invention will be disclosed as it may be incorporated into the tank of the type disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned copending patent application bearing Ser. No. 188,291. An understanding of.

the structure and operation of the tank disclosed in the aforementioned copending patent application will facilitate the understanding of the present invention. For a more detailed discussion of the structure and operation of the tank which is the subject of the copending application bearing Ser. No. 188,291 resort may be had to said copending application and which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. I

For the purpose of the present invention, it will be noted that the tank as diagrammatically illustrated in H6. 1 comprises a tubular shell 11 having end bells 12 and 13 enclosing the shell fordefining the tank structure. lnternal to the tank 10, and arranged intermediate the end bells 12 and 13, there is provided a liner 14 which defines a fluid passageway between the interior wall of the shell 1 1 and the liner 14 for conveying a fluidized stream through the tank 10. The entry end bell 12 is provided with fluid conduit 15 extending between an entry port defined within the bell l2 and the liner 14 for conveying the hot, moisturized pressurized fluid stream as it may be received from the compressor of the air braking system with which the invention is employed. The pressurized fluid stream will be conveyed around the internal surface of the shell 11 by means of the passageway defined between the shell 11 and the liner l4 and progresses longitudinally toward the exit bell 13 of the tank 10. In its travel from the entry bell 12 to the exit bell 13, the heat of the fluid stream will be transferred to the outer shell wall 11 and any fins provided therefor to be radiated to the ambient air and thereby cools the stream as it travels towards the exit aperture 13A to the air-operated braking system. During the interval that the pressurized stream is being cooled, the moisture is separated out and will be deposited at the bottom of the tank 10 and collected at that point. In F 1G. 1, the point of collection of the moisture and other contaminants, such as oil and the like, is defined as a sump 16. This is the general operation of the drying tank 10 of the aforementioned copending application and such structure forms no portion of the present invention.

It will be recognized that the tank 10 is employed in a conventional air controlled braking system for a motor vehicle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,438. The tank 10 is incorporated into such a pressurized air source in accordance with the general air piping system illustrated in FlG. 1 of the aforementioned copending application, application bearing Ser. No. 182,291. The cooled air stream exiting from the outlet 13A of the tank 10 is coupled to the air-operated braking system conventionally employed in trucks and trailers as described in said copending application. For this purpose, it will be recalled that trucks and trailers conventionally employ a service brake which the operator may render operative by the application of the pressurized air to the service brake for applying the brakes. This is effected by the motor vehicle operator by means of a foot-operated treadle arranged in the cab for his convenience; see US. Pat. No. 3,515,438.

The present invention incorporates into the end bell 12 of the tank 10 a valve structure for draining or discharging the water, contaminants, oil and the like that are collected in the sump 16 as a result of the application of the hot, moist, pressurized stream from the compressor to the tank 10 as it travels through the tank. For this purpose, the entry end bell 12 is defined with a cavity 20 internal thereof for mounting the valve means 21 for discharging the elements collected in the sump 16 out of the tank. For this purpose, the valve means 21 of the present invention comprises a primary valve 21? and coacting pressure sensing valve 218. The cavity 20 defined in the end bell 12 is constructed and defined to provide a first chamber 208 and a second chamber 20?. The first chamber 20S communicates with the sump 16 through the provision of a conduit 22 extending between an aperture provided for the cavity chamher 208 and the sump 16. A valve plunger 23 movably extends between the chamber 208 and the chamber 20?. The plunger 23 mounts a sealing element 233 adjacent one end thereof for sealing the aperture 20A extending between the chambers 20S and 2UP and through which the plunger 23 extends. A spring 24 is mounted within the chamber 208 and is seated between the upper end wall thereof and the seal 23$ for the plunger 23 and is normally arranged to urge the plunger 23 in a closed sealing relationship with the aperture 20A. The plunger 23H has an enlarged head at the end opposite the end mounting the seal 23S and arranged adjacent the opposite end of chamber 20F from the aperture 20A. The chamber 20P is further defined by means of a flexible diaphragm 25 secured across lower end of the chamber 201. The flexible diaphragm 25 is arranged adjacent to the head 2311 of the plunger 23 so as to be moved into and out of engagement therewith for operating the plunger 23 betweenits open end and closed positions. The flexible diaphragm 25 has a central aperture coaxial with the drain port 2GP provided in the end bell 12 to allow communication between the atmosphere and the chamber 20. The cham-.

ber 20 is then at the ambient pressure when the plunger 23 is in its sealed relationship with the chamber 238. The drain port 26F may mount a drain tube 26D that is loosely and movably mounted in the port to allow it to be manually moved upwardly to engage the plunger 23 and to unseat the primary valve 21?. r

The end bell 12 is further defined to hold a two-way check valve 218 for operating the primary valve 21?. To this end, the side of the flexible diaphragm 25 opposite the plunger side is in communication with an air pressure sensing conduit 27 for applying a pressurized air to the adjacent side of the diaphragm 25 for flexing it into engagement with the plunger 23 in response to the application of the pressurized air thereto thereby operating the primary valve 21 to an open position. For this purpose, the two-way check valve 21 may be connected at one fluid port 28 to the piping associated with the service brake so that with the application of the pressurized air to the service brake by the motor vehicle operator, pressurized air will be also applied to the valve 218 to move the shuttle 29 to the left and allow the pressurized fluid air stream to be applied to the diaphragm 25. The shuttle 29 is normally arranged in a sealing conduit 27 so as to place the primary valve 21P in its normally closed condition, as illustrated. A further fluid port 30 is arranged on the opposite side of the valve 218 from the port 28 and it may be connected directly to the compressor/governor system so that with the normal cycling of the compressor system, pressurized fluid is applied to the port 30 to move the shuttle to the right and thereby seal off the foot brake signal 28 and apply the pressurized air stream to the diaphragm 25 for operating the primary valve 2lP. The compressor/ governor system normally causes the compressor to alternately and automatically pump and unload.

From the above described structure, the operation of the valve means 21 of the present invention should be appreciated. Considering that the contaminants such as oil, water and the like have been collected at the sump 16 due to the air from the compressor being applied to the tank 10, it will be seen that with the closed position of the valve means 21, the collected materials will not be discharged from the tank and it is necessary in order to discharge the materials from the tank to operate the two-way check valve 21 to an open position either as a result of the operation of the service brake by the vehicle operator or through the cycling of the compressor/governor system. It will now be assumed that the check valve 21S has been operated so as to apply the pressurized air to the flexible diaphragm 25 through the conduit 27. At this time, the diaphragm 25 will have moved the plunger 23 upwardly into the chamber 208 against the pressure exerted by the spring 24 plus the air pressure in the tank exerted against the valve seat 21P over the area of the aperture A, and thereby remove the seal from the chamber 20F. With the opening of the chamber 20?, to the interior of the tank 10, the greater pressure at the sump 16 relative to the chamber 20? will cause the collected materials to be conveyed by means of the conduit 22 into the chamber 20S, and by means of the aperture 20A around the stem of the plunger 23 into the chamber 20?. At this time, it will be appreciated that the diaphragm will be in direct engagement with the head 23H of the plunger 23 sealing off the drain port 26F and the tube 26 so that the contaminants will be collected within the chamber 20F. The diaphragm 25 has flexed between its inner and outer edges that are secured to the end bell 12. With the loss of air pressure to the two-way valve 218, the pressurized air that flexed the diaphragm 25 will be removed from the diaphragm and it will move back to its closed position (as illustrated in FIG. 1) and away from engagement with the head of the plunger 23. When this occurs, the materials that were collected in the chamber 20P will be drained through the drain port 26F and/or the drain tube 26D to the atmosphere and be discharged from the tank 10. This condition will prevail until a further signal is received at the two-way valve 215 for operating the primary valve 21P.

It will also be recognized that with the drain tube 26D freely movable within the port 26? that the manual movement of the tube 26D may be employed for operating the valve 211 and thereby checking the operation of the tank-valve system. It will be recognized that with this manual check of the operation of the system that if substantial amounts of water are discharged it would signal an improper operation of the valve means 21.

A presently preferred embodiment of the structure for the valve means 21 as it may be incorporated into the tank 10 of the aforementioned copending application is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. For this purpose, it will be recognized by reference to the drawing in the aforementioned copending application that the entry end bell identified by the reference numeral 21 and illustrated in FIG. 1A of said application is modified below the center line of the end bell for defining the cavity accepting the valve means 21; also note FIG. 1 hereof. The remaining structure for the tank 10 can be identical to that disclosed in said copending application. To this end, it will be noted that the tank 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2 illustrates the shell 11 with the liner 14 for defining the sump 16 with the conduit 22 in communication with the sump and the cavity 20 housing the valve means 21 within the end bell 12. The conduit 22 may be braized to an aperture 22A provided at the end bell for accepting the conduit 22 and which aperture 22 longitudinally extends into communication with the chamber 208 mounting the compression spring 24. The plunger 23 as illustrated in FIG. 2 mounts the sealing member 238 adjacent one end thereof and is illustrated in its normal sealing relationship with an aperture 20A which extends between the chamber 20S and the chamber 20?. The sealing element 238 is carried by a poppet assembly 23P which also functions as a seat for the adjacent end of the spring 24 or the end of the spring opposite the end seated against the inner wall defining the chamber 208. The plunger 23 is threaded into the poppet assembly 23P and the latter is carried as a result of this connection.

A plunger guide means 236 is secured to the end bell 12 proper by means of a fastener such as the fastener 23F illustrated in FIG. 2. The guide means 230 has a centrally extending aperture 20A for accepting and guiding the stem of the plunger 23. The guide means 23G defines the wall between the chambers 20S and 20F and for this purpose the guide means 23G includes an O-ring 23-0 secured between the wall of the chamber 20S and the guide means for sealing off the chamber 208 from the chamber 20P. The guide means 236 includes a dependent portion 23D for guiding the lower end of the plunger 23 in its travel. It will be noted that the plunger 23 is-constructed and defined with a reduced end extending into the aperture 20A and the chamber 205. The guide means 23G is also provided with a fluid discharge aperture 23DA intermediate its ends for communicating with the chamber 20F, and by means of the aperture 20A with the chamber 208 when the seal 238 is removed. The opposite end of the plunger 23 is provided with the head 23H secured thereto by means of a retaining ring 23R and which head is defined relative to the opposite face of the diaphragm 25 for maximizing the operative face of the head 23H with the diaphragm. The head 2311 is secured in a sealed relationship with the plunger pro'per by means of an O-ring 230R.

It will be noted that the flexible diaphragm 25 is secured to the bottom end of the bell housing 12. The diaphragm 25 is secured to the bell housing 12 through a base 31 for the valve means 21 which is secured to the end bell 12 proper by fasteners 32, illustrated as socket head bolts. The drain 26 for the tank comprises the drain port 26? defined in the base member 31 and arranged coaxially with the central aperture for the diaphragm 25. A drain sleeve 268 is secured to the drain port 26F and functions as the primary drain means. The sleeve 268 is secured to the base 31 by means of a nut 32 threaded to the outer threaded end of the sleeve 26S and includes a washer 32W mounted between the base 31 and the fastener 32. The sleeve 26S secures the inner edge of the diaphragm 25 to the base member 31. The sleeve 26S loosely mounts the drain tube 26D coaxially therewith and defined to extend beyond the outer end of the sleeve 268. An annular space is provided between the inside of the sleeve 26S and the drain tube 26D to allow the effluent to pass therethrough. The drain tube 26D, as in the previous embodiment, is manually movable into engagement with the plunger head 23H to unseat the primary valve 26F. Immediately to the right of the diaphragm 25 there is provided a sensing conduit 27 for communicating with the two-way check valve 218 illustrated as a shuttle valve. The shuttle 29, as illustrated in FIG. 3, may be coupled either to the govemor/compressor system or the service brake system for operating the valve 218. The valve 218 comprises a shuttle member 29 movable between two positions for alternately connecting the port 30 or the port 28 with the conduit 27, depending on which port receives the higher pressure, for applying pressurized air to the adjacent face of the diaphragm 25 and therebyflex the diaphragm upwardly. The shuttle 29 is adapted to move into a longitudinalopening for a cap 34 by means of a left-hand arm for accepting the fluidized pressure from the compressor/govemor system at the aperture 30. The cap 34 is sealed with respect to the base 31 by means of a conventional O-ring 35 secured intermediate its ends as illustrated in FIG. 3. The shuttle 29 has a right-hand arm extending for movement in the aperture 31R communicating with the port 28 for responding to the fluidized pressure applied at the entry port 28 in response to the application of the pressurized air to the service brake of the vehicle. A plug 36 is secured intermediate the ends of the base 31 and secures an opening 37 provided intermediate the ends of the body 31 so as to render the shuttle 29 responsive only to the pressurized air conveyed to the ports 28 or 30.

The operation of the shuttle 29 is such that when the pressure from the governor is applied the shuttle 29 moves to the right to seal off the port 27 such that a simultaneous application of the lesser foot brake pressure in the service brake actuator line is blocked. Both the governor and foot brake signals have the characteristic of either applying pressure to the shuttle 29 or of venting their respective ports to atmosphere. The operation of the valve requires the lower side of the diaphragm 25 to be vented to atmosphere through the conduit 27 and the shuttle valve 218 subsequent to a sensing pressure application.

In view of the above-described structure and the operation disclosed in conjunction with the schematic illustration of FIG. 1, the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 should be readily appreciated. It will be recognized that the normal closed position of the valve means 21 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position, the water collected in the sump 16 will not be drained from the tank 10. With the operation of the shuttle 29 of the two-way valve 218 as a result of the application of the pressurized air thereto from one of the two sources, the fluidized pressure will be applied through the conduit 27 to the adjacent face of the diaphragm 25 to move the diaphragm upwardly. With the flexing of the diaphragm between its inner and outer edges, it will be moved into engagement with the head 23H and move the plunger 23 upwardly. With the movement of the plunger 23 upwardly, the seal 235 will be removed from the aperture 20A and allow communication between the chamber 208 and the interior of the guide means 230 and thereby through the aperture 23DA to the chamber 20F. Since the pressure within the tank 10 at the sump 16 will be on the order of I20 pounds per square inch and the pressure in the chamber 20? is essentially at ambient pressure, the collected contaminants at the sump 16 will be forced into the conduit 22 and conveyed into the chamber 208 and around the stem of the plunger 23R by means of the ap erture 20A and out of the guide means 23G by means of the aperture 23DA so as to be temporarily stored within the chamber 20F. It will be recognized at this time that the drain 268 is sealed off as a result of the flexible diaphragm 25 being flexed into engagement with the bottom end of the plunger 23 between its inner and outer edges. This action will continue until the pressure builds up in the chamber 20? to balance the primary valve 21?. Subsequent release or venting of the air through the conduit 27 and the shuttle valve 218 will produce the complete closing of the valve 21P. With the operation of the valve 21S due to the loss of air to the valve, the shuttle 29 will be moved into its normal position and thereby remove the pressurized air from the adjacent face of the diaphragm 25. With the removal of the air from the diaphragm 25, the diaphragm 25 and thereby the plunger 23 will be moved back to its normal position as illustrated in FIG. 1. When this occurs, the materials that have been conveyed into the chamber 20? will be allowed to discharge around the plunger head 23H into the space now provided between the bottom end of the plunger 23 and the diaphragm 25 and out through the drain sleeve 238 and/or the tube 23D to the atmosphere, as illustrated.

It should now be recognized that the present invention has advanced the state of the art through the integral construction of air tank-valve combination. The heat exchange relationship provided for the valve as a result of the integral construction of the tank with the valve allows the valve to be operative over a wide range of ambient temperatures. Alternatively, in extremely freezing ambient temperatures, a commercially available patch electrical heater may be attached to the outer surface of the end bell 12 to assure operation at these temperatures as well. As a further modification of the end bell structure without resorting to the use of a heater, a thermal insulating material can be applied to the outer surface of the end bell 12 housing the valve means 21 so as to retain the heat transferred to the end bell 12 from the fluid stream so as to cause the heat to be transferred to the valve means rather than the ambient-air. The tank 10 including the end bells 12 and 13 is generally constructed of a good heat conductor such as aluminum and the application of such a thermal insulation to the end bell, as proposed hereinabove, would not effect with the normal operation of the tank in cooling the air stream.

What is claimed is:

1. a fluid tank comprising:

. an enclosed shell adapted to convey a hot, moisture laden fluid therethrough by means of a fluid conduit defined with the inner wall of the shell and to separate and collect the moisture from the fluid passed therethrough at a preselected location in the tank, said shell including a moisture outlet, and

a valve mounted in the moisture outlet operative for draining the collected moisture out of the shell, said valve being mounted substantially within the tank so as to be exposed to the hot fluids being conveyed through the shell to thereby render the valve operative for a wide range of ambient temperatures including freezing temperatures.

2. A fluid tank as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve is a pressurized fluid operative valve and includes means for periodically operating the valve for opening and closing the valve to discharge the moisture from the shell.

3. An enclosed shell as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one end of the tank is enclosed by an end bell having fluid entry means coupled thereto to receive the hot, moisture laden fluid therethrough, and said valve is constructed within a cavity for the end bell and integral therewith.

4. An enclosed shell as defined in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the end bell housing the valve is thermally insulated to prevent the valve from freezing.

5. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid such as pressurized air and the like including an enclosed cylindrical shell constructed of a good thermal conductor,

a liner arranged in a preselected spaced relationship with the inner wall of the shell for defining a fluid passageway therebetween, the liner being constructed and defined to have preselected thermal insulative properties and yieldable in response to the pressure exerted thereon by a fluid stream conveyed thereto, the spacing between the shell wall and the liner being selected to optimize the heat transfer between the fluid conveyed thereto and the shell relative to the fluid pressure drop through the thus defined fluid passageway to cause the heat to be transferred to the shell,

means for conveying a hot, pressurized fluid into the cylindrical tank for conveyance through the tank by means of said fluid passageway and depositing any moisture at the bottom of the shell,

means for conveying the cooled, pressurized fluid received from said fluid passageway out of the cylindrical shell, and

valve means having a valve body constructed integral with the shell and operative to be opened and closed for discharging the moisture collected at the bottom of the shell out of the shell.

6. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means comprises a primary valve operative to collect the water from the bottom of the shell and eject it from the shell and a secondary valve arranged for movement between an open and closed position and for coaction with the primary valve for correspondingly operating the primary valve to an open and closed position.

7. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 6 wherein said primary and secondary valves are responsive to pressurized fluid for rendering them operative and the secondary valve is adapted to be coupled to two different sources of a pressurized fluid for alternately operating it to an open position.

8. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid such as pressurized air and the like comprising an enclosed shell having a fluid passageway defined within the shell and with the shell for conveying a fluid through the shell by means of the thus defined passageway'and constructed and defined to cause the heat of the fluid conveyed therethrough to be transferred to the shell and separating out any contaminants including any moisture in the fluid stream coupled thereto, means for conveying a hot, pressurized fluid stream into the shell for conveyance by means of said fluid passageway, means for conveying the cooled, pressurized fluid received from said fluid passageway out of the shell,

the contaminants including the moisture separated from the fluid stream being deposited at the bottom of the shell, and

means for collecting said contaminants and discharging them from the shell arranged adjacent the fluid entry means for the shell and constructed and defined integral with the shell.

9. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 8 wherein said shell has an internal cavity mounting valve means for collecting and discharging the contaminants from the shell.

10. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 9 wherein said valve means comprises valve means mounted within said cavity and having a movable plunger operable between an open position communicating with the interior of the tank and a closed position for closing the interior of the tank, conduit means coupled between the bottom of the shell and the valve for conveying the collected contaminants into the valve when the valve plunger has been moved into an open position so as to be discharged therefrom out of the shell when the valve plunger is moved to a closed position, and means for operating said valve means between an open and closed position.

11. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 10 wherein the shell has a discharge port arranged for discharging the collected contaminants from the shell, said valve means includes a flexible diaphragm having a central aperture coaxial with the discharge port and secured between its inner and outer ends to the tank, said diaphragm being adapted to be responsive to pressurized fluid to be moved into engagement with the plunger for moving the plunger to an open position and to allow the plunger to move to a closed position when the diaphragm is moved out of engagement with the plunger to allow any contaminants conveyed into the valve to be discharged through the central aperture of the diaphragm and the discharge port.

12. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 8 wherein said enclosed shell comprises a solid end bell arranged adjacent the fluid entry end of the shell for enclosing said shell, said shell having an internal cavity, a conduit coupled between the bottom of the shell and adjacent the top of the cavity for conveying the contaminants from the bottom of the shell into the cavity, said cavity including first and second communicating chambers and a plunger movable between said chambers, said first chamber being defined for communication with the interior of the shell through said conduit, said plunger carrying mounting means for sealing the first chamber from the second chamber and normally arranged in sealing relationship for sealing the first chamber from the second chamber, means arranged in the first chamber for resiliently holding the plunger in its sealing position,

a flexible diaphragm having a central aperture secured between its inner and outer ends across the opposite end of the second chamber from the end communicable with the first chamber and movable into and out of engagement with the plunger, a drain defined in the shell coaxial with the diaphragm aperture for providing communication between the second chamber and the ambient air, the diaphragm being normally spaced from the end of the plunger to allow any contaminants conveyed into the second chamber through the first chamber when the plunger is operated to an open position to be discharged therefrom by means of the drain when the plunger moves into sealing relationship with the first chamber, and means for conveying pressurized fluid to one side of the diaphragm for operating the plunger.

13. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 12 wherein said last mentioned meanscomprises a fluid conduit internally defined in the end bell for communicating with the discharge end of the flexible diaphragm and a source of pressurized fluid and a valve mounted to apply and remove the pressurized fluid to the latter mentioned fluid conduit for respectively and alternately moving the plunger to its two positions.

14. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 13 wherein said valve is a two-way valve connectable to two different sources of pressurized fluid for alternately applying and removing the fluid pressure from one of the sources to the diaphragm.

15. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 14 wherein said two-way valve comprises a pair of ports having a movable shuttle arranged therebetween and adapted to be responsive to the higher fluid pressure applied to one of the ports for sealing off the other port.

16. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 14 including thermal insulation means carried by the outer surface of the shell adjacent the portion mounting the valve means to cause the heat of the shell transferred from the heat conveyed thereto to be transferred to said valve means. 

1. A FLUID TANK COMPRISING: AN ENCLOSED SHELL ADAPTED TO CONVEY A HOT, MOISTURE LADEN FLUID THERETHROUGH BY MEANS OF A FLUID CONDUIT DEFINED WITH THE INNER WALL OF THE SHELL AND TO SEPARATE AND COLLECT THE MOISTURE FROM THE FLUID PASSED THERETHROUGH AT A PRESELECTED LOCATION IN THE TANK, SAID SHELL INCLUDING A MOISTURE OUTLET, AND A VALVE MOUNTED IN THE MOISTURE OUTLET OPERATIVE FOR DRAINING THE COLLECTED MOISTURE OUT OF THE SHELL, SAID VALVE BEING MOUNTED SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE TANK SO AS TO BE EXPOSED TO THE HOT FLUIDS BEING CONVEYED THROUGH THE SHELL TO THEREBY RENDER THE VALVE OPERATIVE FOR A WIDE RANGE OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURES INCLUDING FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
 2. A fluid tank as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve is a pressurized fluid operative valve and includes means for periodically operating the valve for opening and closing the valve to discharge the moisture from the shell.
 3. An enclosed shell as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one end of the tank is enclosed by an end bell having fluid entry means coupled thereto to receive the hot, moisture laden fluid therethrough, and said valve is constructed within a cavity for the end bell and integral therewith.
 4. An enclosed shell as defined in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the end bell housing the valve is thermally insulated to prevent the valve from freezing.
 5. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid such as pressurized air and the like including an enclosed cylindrical shell constructed of a good thermal conductor, a liner arranged in a preselected spaced relationship with the inner wall of the shell for defining a fluid passageway therebetween, the liner being constructed and defined to have preselected thermal insulative properties and yieldable in response to the pressure exerted thereon by a fluid stream conveyed thereto, the spacing between the shell wall and the liner being selected to optimize the heat transfer between the fluid conveyed thereto and the shell relative to the fluid pressure drop through the thus defined fluid passageway to cause the heat to be transferred to the shell, means for conveying a hot, pressurized fluid into the cylindrical tank for conveyance through the tank by means of said fluid passageway and depositing any moisture at the bottom of the shell, means for conveying the cooled, pressurized fluid received from said fluid passageway out of the cylindrical shell, and valve means having a valve body constructed integral with the shell and operative to be opened and closed for discharging the moisture collected at the bottom of the shell out of the shell.
 6. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means comprises a primary valve operative to collect the water from the bottom of the shell and eject it from the shell and a secondary valve arranged for movemEnt between an open and closed position and for coaction with the primary valve for correspondingly operating the primary valve to an open and closed position.
 7. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 6 wherein said primary and secondary valves are responsive to pressurized fluid for rendering them operative and the secondary valve is adapted to be coupled to two different sources of a pressurized fluid for alternately operating it to an open position.
 8. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid such as pressurized air and the like comprising an enclosed shell having a fluid passageway defined within the shell and with the shell for conveying a fluid through the shell by means of the thus defined passageway and constructed and defined to cause the heat of the fluid conveyed therethrough to be transferred to the shell and separating out any contaminants including any moisture in the fluid stream coupled thereto, means for conveying a hot, pressurized fluid stream into the shell for conveyance by means of said fluid passageway, means for conveying the cooled, pressurized fluid received from said fluid passageway out of the shell, the contaminants including the moisture separated from the fluid stream being deposited at the bottom of the shell, and means for collecting said contaminants and discharging them from the shell arranged adjacent the fluid entry means for the shell and constructed and defined integral with the shell.
 9. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 8 wherein said shell has an internal cavity mounting valve means for collecting and discharging the contaminants from the shell.
 10. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 9 wherein said valve means comprises valve means mounted within said cavity and having a movable plunger operable between an open position communicating with the interior of the tank and a closed position for closing the interior of the tank, conduit means coupled between the bottom of the shell and the valve for conveying the collected contaminants into the valve when the valve plunger has been moved into an open position so as to be discharged therefrom out of the shell when the valve plunger is moved to a closed position, and means for operating said valve means between an open and closed position.
 11. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 10 wherein the shell has a discharge port arranged for discharging the collected contaminants from the shell, said valve means includes a flexible diaphragm having a central aperture coaxial with the discharge port and secured between its inner and outer ends to the tank, said diaphragm being adapted to be responsive to pressurized fluid to be moved into engagement with the plunger for moving the plunger to an open position and to allow the plunger to move to a closed position when the diaphragm is moved out of engagement with the plunger to allow any contaminants conveyed into the valve to be discharged through the central aperture of the diaphragm and the discharge port.
 12. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 8 wherein said enclosed shell comprises a solid end bell arranged adjacent the fluid entry end of the shell for enclosing said shell, said shell having an internal cavity, a conduit coupled between the bottom of the shell and adjacent the top of the cavity for conveying the contaminants from the bottom of the shell into the cavity, said cavity including first and second communicating chambers and a plunger movable between said chambers, said first chamber being defined for communication with the interior of the shell through said conduit, said plunger carrying mounting means for sealing the first chamber from the second chamber and normally arranged in sealing relationship for sealing the first chamber from the second chamber, means arranged in the first chamber for resiliently Holding the plunger in its sealing position, a flexible diaphragm having a central aperture secured between its inner and outer ends across the opposite end of the second chamber from the end communicable with the first chamber and movable into and out of engagement with the plunger, a drain defined in the shell coaxial with the diaphragm aperture for providing communication between the second chamber and the ambient air, the diaphragm being normally spaced from the end of the plunger to allow any contaminants conveyed into the second chamber through the first chamber when the plunger is operated to an open position to be discharged therefrom by means of the drain when the plunger moves into sealing relationship with the first chamber, and means for conveying pressurized fluid to one side of the diaphragm for operating the plunger.
 13. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 12 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a fluid conduit internally defined in the end bell for communicating with the discharge end of the flexible diaphragm and a source of pressurized fluid and a valve mounted to apply and remove the pressurized fluid to the latter mentioned fluid conduit for respectively and alternately moving the plunger to its two positions.
 14. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 13 wherein said valve is a two-way valve connectable to two different sources of pressurized fluid for alternately applying and removing the fluid pressure from one of the sources to the diaphragm.
 15. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 14 wherein said two-way valve comprises a pair of ports having a movable shuttle arranged therebetween and adapted to be responsive to the higher fluid pressure applied to one of the ports for sealing off the other port.
 16. A storage and cooling tank for a pressurized fluid as defined in claim 14 including thermal insulation means carried by the outer surface of the shell adjacent the portion mounting the valve means to cause the heat of the shell transferred from the heat conveyed thereto to be transferred to said valve means. 